One Step at a Time - January 2016

[paulywogg]

Hey all,Fen,that's the saddest part of working with the elderly,I did hair at a rest home for a bit in Utah and I used to look at the older peeps,imagine what they were like when they were young,some of them were so cool and others were grouchy,then when one passed I'd be sad,I quit cuz it was too much for me,Nora,I think its exciting that your sons getting married,wish my girls were all married off!!Liz,you sound chipper Mama,love the scarf you were wearing in your Facebook picture but pink is MY color haha,decorated for valentines day yesterday ,its early but I need something to look forward to besides Denny's was decked out when hubs and I went a couple of Sundays ago if they can do it early,so can I Rusty you've been quiet lately,Dots?TMH?need a check in,I liked when Choices was posting here but I do see her on other threads,I need to go to Target and see if they have a refillable filter for the keurig,those k-cups are putting me in the poor house!didn't realize this family drinks so much coffee,grrr,hope we all have a fabulous Friday

[mama bear]

Hello my peeps.
Pauly - the keurig is ridiculous expensive. we had them at work but I refuse to buy one at home.
Thanks for the scarf comment.....I got a lot of compliments on it and cannot even remember where I got it!! Pink is MY color....you better watch out!!
Fenny - good for you and your deviousness. I am inspired and awed and completely agree with you.
You really do sound better. Unemployment is nerve wracking and depressing. I am glad you are enjoying your job. I am not sure I watch people die either.
Yay on the wedding Nora, but Fenny is right. Does your sweet soon to DIL have a family to help out?
Hi Sweet Lizz.
Speaking of the elderly, I had to put a NASTY 80-something woman who was screaming at the office staff, in her place. I will probably go to hell for that one, but no one bullies my team.
It's a good day....I am home in my Mickey Mouse jammies working!!
And yes Nora - Grant has not smoked weed. He has to be clean and they do some serious drug testing and according to Grant it takes a year for weed to disappear from your blood. He is planning on the fire academy next January. I am really proud of him.
Back to work - love you all!!

[mama bear]

just stopped working and am chilling with Netflix while hubs is at the bar
Hope everyone is well.
I am so worried about K9.

[paulywogg]

Me too Mama have you heard from her at all?

[Lizann]

Oh my, why what's up with K9?

[Baclofenman]

just stopped working and am chilling with Netflix

Watching Breaking Bad I hope....

Regards


Bacman

[NoraC]

Watching Breaking Bad I hope....

Regards


Bacman

Now we're watching Parks and Recreation.

[NoraC]

I have texted K9 a few times but no answer.

Mama - that's great that Grant is doing so well.

Pauly - that was a great post you made with the lists. So true that there are good and bad days.

Liz - I can't even imagine how hard it was to hear your parents stories. I can't get the book I'm reading out of my mind.

Fen - I agree with everyone that you are sounding great.

Bac - you are doing fantastic. 14 days.

[NoraC]

Where is Rusty?????

[NoraC]

My soon to be DIL doesn't have a close relationship with her mother. She is not even invited to the wedding. Long story but STB DIL practically raised her younger siblings. So, I'm trying to help as much as possible.

[paulywogg]

Nora,have you tried calling K9? I wonder if her number is still in service, its really weird she's just poof,disappeared, sounds like you get along good with future DIL,that's a plus

[Baclofenman]

Bac - you are doing fantastic. 14 days.

Thanks Nora - Not been without its trials I have to say - But the support of the nest and some others is touching - One day at a time people - Keep it up everyone

Regards


Bacman

[Baclofenman]

Now we're watching Parks and Recreation.

Any good? reviews I have just read are "mixed"

BB is awesome - really awsome, one of the best things I have seen

Regards


Bacman

[Rusty]

Good Morning, Friends, and a Long Overdue HELLOOO!!! and SO SORRY I haven't posted in a long while.

Everything is great here on my end...very busy working and enjoying life. Yesterday, we threw a surprise 60th birthday party for my sister. She was totally surprised and had no idea that her daughters and husband had planned it. It was just my immediate family, and it was held at one of her favorite restaurants. I was filled with gratitude that I could share in my sister's joy, sipping a club soda, with no yearning for a glass of wine. My drinking pattern was weird. TBT...when I was with my family or a good friend...I really could stop at a glass of wine or two and not want more. It was on the weekends when I was home alone where I was vulnerable, because I'd think, "who cares if I get drunk?"

I have a few stories to share with you today....which is part of the reason why I haven't posted: I wanted to have a block of time where I could share some significant events with all of you. My sister has 3 kids in their twenties. The oldest, Megan, is married, and last night, Megan and her husband, and my sister's son and his girlfriend...were all NOT drinking. Apparently, they had overdone it on NYE and were hungover for two days, so they made a pact to quit for 60 days. I am relieved because I have been worried about my nephew (he's my godson, too) and his weekend partying. When we got together for family dinners, I noticed how often he kept refilling his rum and coke. I was talking to his girlfriend and I asked if she missed drinking and she said "not yet. The weekend drinking just got old." My sister's kids are all very successful...graduated from college with honors and they all have great jobs. I am proud of them for being aware that their drinking may be getting out of control. I would not want to see AL affecting their careers.

The second story I wanted to share was my experience with my new client in Connecticut. Her name is Sue and in the course of my work there, I was interviewing the Engineering Manager, a guy in his 30s. In talking and looking over some documents, I found this guy had not been following his procedures at all...and in this company, it is very important that procedures be followed to the letter. Sue blurted that out that she thought this guy had been drinking on the job and could see that he was trying to mask that he had been drinking (gum, coffee, etc.). She asked, "Wasn't that obvious to you????!!!" I had told her NOTHING about my AL problem, but honestly, no, I didn't notice AL on his breath. She is 58 and she told me knew she had an AL problem when she was just 16. She grew up in West Virginia, and there was no minimum drinking age there. One weekend, she and a bunch of her friends were drinking, and her girlfriend became pregnant as she was drunk and didn't realize she had gone to bed with someone. On that same weekend, she witnessed another friend get into his car while drunk (she was not aware that he was as drunk as he was), and he crashed into a ditch and the car flipped over. He was ejected from the car, stood up, unscathed, and TOOK A BOW. What he didn't realize was that two other friends were walking nearby, and the car landed ON TOP OF THEM. One friend was killed and the other was permanently disabled. Sue had started drinking when she was 14..and she knew right then, she had to quit. She said she misses it sometimes when she is out to dinner with her husband, and she sees a couple enjoying a glass of wine, and they look relaxed and happy. She said that is not reality for her...if she had a glass of wine she would go right back to where she started...drinking til she passed out. I guess these experiences are tacit reminders and support for my AF lifestyle. Like Mama and Sunshinedaisies, I was able to successfully moderate for quite a while, but then I went AF and it's where I've stayed. I was shocked that my niece and nephew decided to stop drinking...but it was also great to see that they were having just as good of a time at the birthday party not drinking as opposed to possibly getting trashed. Well, enough about me. LOL.

Sunn-great to see you hear and thrilled to hear NAL is working for you! BRAVA!!

Bacman-congratulations on all your AF time! We love having you here.

Pauly-did you decorate for Valentine's Day yet? How do you decorate? My dear friend puts up a white, flocked tree on a table and decorates it with ornaments and red garland.

Nora-your DIL is lucky to have a future MIL as lovely as you are. Quite a compliment she paid you!!

Liz-I think it's fascinating that your son wanted to know everything about your parents' history.

Mama-I hope your job is everything you were looking for and your are satisfied even though some days are incredibly frustrating.

I think of K9 often and hope she is ok...and if she isn't, I hope she comes back here so we can collectively give her our support.

Well, friends...I am off....I have my painter coming in about a half hour and then I am meeting a friend for coffee. Big hellos to anyone I have missed. :-)

Have a great Saturday, everyone, and thanks for listening and reading (if you did...Hahahahaha)

[Lizann]

Thanks for sharing Rusty, and yes I did read it all! I'm glad your family decided to abstain. I'm a little confused though. How's did your family know about your drinking if you only did it on the weekends when no one was around? Interesting story about your job too. Did the woman confront the man at all. My father shared in his story the other day, that his brother was a drunk, which I kind of knew but it wasn't discussed much. I only met him once in life. Mom did mention in the past that she was happy to get my dad away from the family. He may have had a similar history. After hearing what they went through I can't imagine how they didn't drink, though.
Rainy and gray here today and I'm feeling kinda blah. I'm sure that my history lesson factors into my mood. Just makes me sad what they went through. My life has been pretty darn good and I'm the one with the drinking problem. Anyway, thanks for letting me share and I'm done with this pity party. Off to tend to my chores.
Mark took Lucy to get groomed yesterday and she is so freaking cute. Will try to forward a picture.